Freeze spending to reach targeted county cuts

Published
6:26 pm CST, Friday, February 3, 2017

To the editor:

The question of a homestead exemption for Montgomery County residents has been raised with much discussion surrounding what percentage of an exemption to adopt. There is little question Montgomery County Commissioners Court should work to provide the residents of Montgomery County the highest level of relief they possibly can – 20 percent. But they should do this in a fiscally responsible way. There is in fact a very simple path to 20 percent that would require few cuts, although more are needed and welcome.

For Montgomery County to reach the 20 percent maximum exemption, we the residents of Montgomery County simply must demand our members of Commissioners Court commit to freezing spending increases for the next two fiscal years. In that time, the addition of new property to the tax rolls and the increase in appraisals over that time will more than cover the cost of the exemptions in question.

As reported by The Courier, a 20 percent exemption would reflect a $29 million reduction in revenue. Spread over two years, that would be $14.5 million per year. In the budget for fiscal year 2017, it is noted that the adopted budget "will raise more total property taxes than last year's budget by $18,108,839." This would leave $3,608,839 available for any needed additions to the budgets of law enforcement, infrastructure or other constitutionally required services.

In the two years it will take to achieve the statutory homestead exemption limit of 20 percent, Montgomery County will realize more than enough growth in both appraisal value and new property to more than offset the cost of this exemption. Montgomery County will not only become an example for the other taxing entities in the area but also an example across Texas.

This measure alone will not bring the relief needed to the taxpayers hurting from skyrocketing property taxes. Without help from the 85th Legislature on appraisal reform, and strict spending controls, taxpayers will not see the relief they so dearly need. It is time for Montgomery County to do its part and adopt relief for the people of the county. We cannot expect the Legislature to do its part if we are not willing to do ours.

This past week, Judge Doyal laid out his principles for the 2018 fiscal budget to include: conservative budget management, property tax relief, no elected official raises, and funding core services and responsible government. Additionally, last week Noack said he would support up to a 20 percent general homestead exemption. I have presented a plan which achieves both of these lofty goals; and there is no reason why these two sides cannot come together to provide much-needed relief to the taxpayers of Montgomery County.

Commissioners and Judge, it is time … there is a better way, it is time we take it.

The ACA, or "Obama Care" (I mention both as some don't realize they are one and the same) has been in effect since March 2010. While far from perfect, it did do some good things. Not the least of which was to get some 20 million more folks insured. Make no mistake, people do die without access to the health care that having insurance provides.

A recent newsletter from the office of Kevin Brady (R-TX8) elatedly proclaims "Full Speed Ahead" on the repeal of the ACA now that the new president is in office. It is important to note that Mr. Brady had six years during the existence of the ACA to develop a viable replacement or at least a fix for the ACA. Instead, he used the time to vote to repeal it 52 times when he knew it wouldn't get anywhere. Worse, he had all the years (he's been in office since 1997) before the ACA existed to do something to at least resolve the health care issues the "flawed" ACA addresses and did nothing as well.

Before Mr. Brady goes "Full Speed Ahead" on repeal, he needs to come up with a plan to replace or repair the ACA, and whatever he comes up with should be the plan that congress is required to use as well.